All Blacks

Crusaders

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Leon MacDonald

Leon MacDonald is a versatile and cool-headed backline veteran who has electric pace and timing that can still rip the best defences in the game.
Since returning from club rugby in Japan with Yamaha in 2004, MacDonald has become a regular for the All Blacks, Canterbury and the Crusaders.
Known as Rangi by his teammates, he is also an able goal-kicking backup to Dan Carter.
Although he has played most of his representative career at fullback, MacDonald stepped into the centre position at the 2003 Rugby World Cup when Tana Umaga was injured.
At one point he connected on 16 consecutive kicks at goal, all conversions, and only five players have more Rugby World Cup conversions than MacDonald’s total of 20.
Making his debut for the Crusaders at the tender age of 19, MacDonald was plucked from Marlborough by current All Blacks assistant coach Wayne Smith. He soon showed his class and had many older players wondering who this young talent was.
New Zealand Representative Teams
New Zealand Schools in 1995
New Zealand Under 19 in 1996
New Zealand Under 21 in 1997
New Zealand Maori in 1998, 1999, 2005
New Zealand Rugby Academy in 1999
All Blacks in 2000–2003, 2005-2008
Career Notes
• Scored seven tries for the champion Crusaders in the 2006 Rebel Sport Super 14, good for second on the team.
• Brought up 200 first-class matches in 2006, in the Super 14 match against the Sharks in Timaru.
• Scored five tries in five Tests in 2002, and another four at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Position:

Fullback

Born:

21/12/1977

Physical:

1.81m, 96kg

Test Debut:

24/06/2000

Test Points Breakdown:

14t, 25c, 7p

Test Points:

141

Caps:

56

Provincial Team:

Canterbury

Super Rugby Team:

Crusaders

Belief within the Crusaders camp was built around their 14 games without defeat in Investec Super Rugby and while they lost that record against the Hurricanes at the weekend, they were better for that experience.
More

First five choices: All Blacks coaches Graham Henry and Wayne Smith talk about their choice of Leon MacDonald to start in this weekend’s Philips Tri Nations Test against South Africa in the No 10 jersey.
Watch